Customer Reviews

AirAsia eyes more regional routes

Thai AirAsia wants to add services from Asian cities to Phuket and Chiang Mai over the next two years.

Thai
AirAsia plans to add more flights, over the next two years, linking
cities in neighbouring countries with Phuket and Chiang Mai, according
to the airlineâ€'s CEO, Tassapon Bijleveld

â€œThe best option is to
add services to these two Thai destinations from regional airports
where we already serve from Bangkok,â€ said Mr Tassapon.

He said
there was potential from Chinese cities. He cited the popular
Phuketâ€"Hong Kong route as an example of what could be achieved, adding
similar services could be established from Guangzhou, Shenzhen and
Vietnam.

However, the airline is still studying feasibility. Chiang Mai would probably get services from southern China.

Currently, beside the main hub at Suvarnabhumi, Thai AirAsia offers a single regional service from Phuket to Singapore.

From
Bangkok the airline flies to a variety of cities that are not more than
a three-hour and 30-minute flight away. It wants to expand services out
of Bangkok to Indian cities and some other points in China.

This year, Mr Tassapon targets 5.1 million passengers up from 4.2 million in 2008.

â€œWe
are not afraid of a crisis, as we can work our way out of it using
marketing tools. What is more worrisome, is the fact weÂ cannot control
oil prices.â€